Greg Abel's salary as Berkshire CEO is way more than Warren Buffett! Here's how much cash he's getting paid in 2026

Core Insights - Berkshire Hathaway is increasing the salary of its new CEO, Greg Abel, to $25 million annually, marking a 19% increase from his previous compensation [1][2] - This new salary significantly surpasses the $100,000 that Warren Buffett earned during his tenure as CEO [1] - Abel's compensation reflects a broader trend in executive pay, contrasting with Buffett's historically low salary [4] Salary Details - Greg Abel's new salary as CEO is a 19% increase from his previous salary of $21 million in 2024 [2] - In 2023, Abel received a salary of $20 million, and in 2022, he earned $16 million plus a $3 million bonus [3] - Berkshire's Vice Chairman Ajit Jain received the same compensation as Abel from 2022 to 2024, with future compensations for both not yet disclosed [3] Background on Greg Abel - Greg Abel became CEO of Berkshire Hathaway on January 1, succeeding Warren Buffett, who led the company for over 60 years [5] - Abel joined Berkshire in 1999 through the acquisition of MidAmerican Energy and has held various leadership roles, including CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Energy and Vice Chairman overseeing non-insurance businesses [6] - Abel owns approximately $171 million in Berkshire stock and sold a 1% stake in Berkshire Hathaway Energy for $870 million in 2022 [6] Industry Context - The increase in Abel's salary highlights a shift in compensation structures within traditional companies, especially when compared to the substantial incentive packages seen in the tech industry, such as Elon Musk's $1 trillion package approved by Tesla shareholders [4] - The disparity in executive compensation illustrates changing norms in how companies reward their leaders [6]